miling at him.

"Thank you, senor, for these few kind words," she said. "I expect you
have been saying something of the same sort to my aunt?"

"Yes, Myra, Don Carlos has been telling me that mine is the type of
beauty he has always most admired, and that I seem to have discovered
not only the secret of perpetual youth, but the art of growing old
gracefully," Lady Fermanagh told her smilingly. "I begin to suspect
him of being Irish instead of Spanish--for how can one grow old with
perpetual youth, I ask you? Still, I confess I like his blarney, and I
think it a pity that most Englishmen seem to have lost the knack of
paying a compliment, and saying flattering things as if they meant
them."

"Dear lady, you do both me and yourself an injustice," exclaimed Don
Carlos, his tone very grave but his dark eyes dancing. "The greatest
of courtiers, even if he had kissed your famous Blarney Stone, would
surely be at a loss for words which would even do justice to your
charm, let alone flattering you."

Lady Fermanagh wagged a finger at him.

"My Spanish is getting rusty, senor," she said, "but I think I remember
one of the proverbs of your country: '_Haceos miel y comeras han
moscas_', which means, 'Make yourself honey and the flies will eat
you.' Am I right?"

"Always you are right, dear lady," responded Don Carlos smilingly; "but
you leave me undetermined as to whether I am your fly or your honey.
Incidentally, we have another proverb, '_En casa del moro no hables
algaravia._' Can your ladyship translate that?"

"Yes, senor," Lady Fermanagh answered, after a moment of thought. "It
means, '_Do not speak Arabic in the house of a Moor_,' but I don't know
what the application is where we are concerned, unless you are
suggesting I have misinterpreted your perfect English, or else you are
subtly criticising my imperfect Spanish. You are too deep for me, Don
Carlos, and I will leave Myra to try and fathom you. Beware of him,
Myra!" she added smilingly, as she moved away.

"I assure you I am absolutely sincere when I tell you, sweet lady, that
I am more than charmed to know that you are coming to Spain as my
guest, and I promise you I shall do everything that lies in my power to
make your visit interesting," said Don Carlos to Myra. "But let me
warn you that if El Diablo Cojuelo learns that the most beautiful,
adorable, and wholly desirable girl in the world is going to visit El
Castillo de Ruiz, he will assuredly m